Wildlife department hikes hunting licence fee

The wildlife department has increased the licencing fee to Rs5,000 for the hunting of animals in Hazara division.

In this regard, Hazara Hunting Association President Ghulam Sarwar Saqi, General Secretary Muhammad Haroon, Badr Muneer Khan, body members Amanullah Khan Darwish and other members said that this cruel hike in fee poses a severe threat to the hunters. It’s a healthy game and it keeps our younger generation right on track, they said.

They claimed that several hunters have now refused to get licences due to this harsh hike in fees. As a result, the income generated from this has seen a sharp decline. They said that the primary goal of the hunting union was to protect the rights of hunters. He further went on to say that short guns are allowed in Pakistan for hunting however the wildlife department has separate regulations for the elite and for those belonging to the low-income class.

They said that the fee for a hunting dog has also soared from Rs250 to Rs1500 therefore, it is requested that the wildlife department and authorised officers review it as soon as possible. On the other hand side, they also claimed that workers present at the wildlife facility issue illegal fines of Rs10,000 on hunters which further decreases their morale.

The fines should be issued as per the laws where bank challans are handed over and fines are submitted to banks, they added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2022.